4. Titus #2
“Perhaps.” I pop the stick of gum in my mouth and we stand in silence for a few moments.
“I was just standing here thinking about the first time we met,” I say.
“In some bar in the city. I went there on my first night out of the joint. Couldn’t sleep.
You know how it is when you’re trying to readjust to the world. ”
“I know it well. After my last stint, I had to resort to sleeping with the television on just for the noise.”
I chuckle. The Bratva reintegration into society. Somebody ought to write a book on it. “Anyway, I was just standing here thinking of that first time I laid eyes on her. Did you know she was on a date?”
“You’ve mentioned it.”
I nod slowly. “Some button-up, tight-ass she used to work with. He got bent out of shape when I bought her a drink. Ended up leaving after she accepted.” I pause, remembering how her date stood up and barked at me like one of those little purse dogs.
Angie turned to him elegantly and told him in so many words that the date was over.
“Sorry, John, but I really hate sore losers. Let’s keep this friendly, shall we?
” It was the classiest tell off that I’d ever seen.
“She might’ve made a fine queen,” Ignat says. I don’t respond. That’s a thought I’d given up entertaining, if I ever did at all. We hadn’t gotten far enough to really consider what a future together as Bratva royalty might’ve looked like.
“You didn’t come here to reminisce about my love life,” I say, pulling us both back out of the past.
“No, no, I didn’t.” His voice lowers slightly, or hardens. The way it does when he’s talking business. “I have news about the Aristovs.”
“You’ve found them?”
“In a way.” I frown at him and he sighs. “It would be better to say that we know where they’ve been. I heard from an old friend about an hour ago.”
“A friend of yours? Or a friend of ours?”
“Both,” he says. “Stasio Romano. Do you remember him?”
The old Italian with the gun shop. We’ve done business with him off and on over the years, but he and Ignat did a stretch in prison overseas when they were in their twenties. I nod. “I do. He’s seen them?”
“He has. He says they came into his shop looking for aid… and weapons.”
That gets my attention. “Aristov’s children?” He nods. “Did they have anyone with them?”
“According to Stasio, they did not, nor did they allude to any alliances that they’d struck up.” He sighs as the breeze picks up again, bringing a welcome coolness against the oppressive heat of midday. “Apparently, they are planning an attack.”
“An attack?” I chuckle. “On who? Us?”
“Well, you, specifically. They’ve decided instead of running, they’re going to take revenge for the killing of their family.”
“Hmph.” Vengeance. Well, they’re owed that, certainly. “And you’re sure it’s just the two of them? They haven’t reached out to any of my enemies?”
“Stasio said they… well, more specifically, Aristov’s daughter, is convinced that if they kill you, then they will be free from your plan to kill them.”
Hmm. That’s not such an outrageous plan, honestly. I would hope that Ignat or Cyrus and Cyril would pick up the helm of revenge in my absence, but one never knows in Bratva life. There is no honor among us.
“In any event,” he goes on, “they were there a little over an hour ago. According to him, they left heading south, toward the outskirts of the city. I can have Cyrus send his brigade out that way, search the motels.”
I think back to the moment after I killed Marius, looking over my shoulder at Cyril getting his clock cleaned by that sexy little thing in a red silk dress. A woman with knowledge of hand-to-hand like that would probably know her way around a weapon as well.
She, at least, could give us one hell of a fight. She might even take some of my men out.
Then again, she’s only one person. And this might be the opportunity I need.
“Do nothing,” I tell Ignat. He raises his eyebrows with surprise. “Is that a problem?”
“No, of course not. It’s just… Titus, I just told you about a credible threat against your life. Are you certain the prudent thing wouldn’t be to snuff them out before they get settled? Hit them when they aren’t expecting us?”
“They don’t know we know their plans, Ignat. No matter what they do, they will not be expecting us.”
“So, then, what do you plan to do when they show up at your gate?”
I smile and offer a chuckle his way. “When you’re hunting, isn’t it always better when the prey walks right into your lap?
” He returns my smile, finally understanding.
“Let them come. When they do, we’ll surround and take them.
No sense stretching our resources when we know they’ll be walking right to our front door soon enough. ”
“I see. All right. I will send word down the line to prepare for their arrival.”
“Good.” He starts to leave, but I stop him. “By the way, prepare two rooms for them at the inn for me. I want the pleasure of doing the final deed myself.”
“Yes, sir.” He gives a little bow of respect, then leaves me to my ruminations.
I look down at Angela’s grave. I can almost feel her disapproval.
“Trust me, my dear,” I tell her. “This is the only way.” I kiss my hand and place it on the cold headstone. “I’ll see you soon.”
And with that, I leave the graveyard. In the end, when it’s all done, her soul will rest… and so will mine.